Today we’d like to introduce you to Naomi Schlinke.
Naomi, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
As a kid, all things artistic seemed much more engaging and powerful than any other activity. I recall thinking that I would need a special kind of internal engagement in order to make real art. I was about ten when I listened to the very dramatic “Hall of the Mountain King” by Grieg, put on a blindfold and lay down right in front of the “hi-fi” in order to induce that state of immersion! Music, dance, writing, and painting all seemed equally accessible without the albatross of “pedigree.” I recall writing a story about a young girl who wanted to dance and then illustrated it. It all just seemed like second nature.
But as many artists know, crossing the line into adulthood with those reflexes intact and nurtured can require a sleight of hand both pragmatically and psychologically. This path may appear absurd to those around you and to yourself as well! But if circumstances allow and the will is there, you can blunder ahead with your vision, as Robert Henri said.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Despite my desire, will, and native abilities, convincing myself that this was a path that “belonged” to me as an adult took some doing. The only way to do that is to put in the time and make work over and over again. You have to show up even when the well is dry and when no one is paying you any regard. To keep on keeping on is the definition of real success.
We’d love to hear more about your art.
For many years I have been working back and forth between painting and collage. The best paintings I preserve, but there are others that seem ready to go on to another existence. Those I dismantle and use to create what might be called “painterly collages.” I think my work has a distinctly kinesthetic bias, reflecting real physical conditions and qualities while remaining abstract overall.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Just this past January, I had a show at Northern-Southern Gallery in Austin, Texas. I felt that it was the strongest show I’ve ever created. In addition to the painterly collages themselves, the eccentric installation featured walls covered in textured paper that echoed the physical nature of the collages.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://naomischlinke.com
- Email: naomi@naomischlinke.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naomischlinke/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nschlinke/
Image Credit:
Christopher Caselli
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